What was that stupid band with the guy who assaulted Jack White? The Von Bondies? Man they were shit. Nice claim to fame - Jack beats you senseless, and your fifteen minutes starts ticking.

I read the article... didn't think it was "be-moaning" or in any way complaining, just stating that there were more bands now than at any time ever before. Which may well be true. And also commenting (in a positive way) that playing in a band was becoming "accepted" as a recreational pursuit. Jeez, well they'd be 30 or 40 years behind the times on THAT little pearl of wisdom. Who plays in a band as a friggin' career??!! Not many. Ah well, that's the papers for you. I think it was all ust an excuse to put an attractive Debbie Harry clone rock-chick on the front cover...

"all playing music as a life choice, it's their passion and their desired career (not working in a cafe) They are not just playing in a fun goodtime band as that article alluded and you assume."

I see you assume that I assume that "recreational" = fun goodtime. Never assume, Blink. It makes an Ass of U and Me (think about it... but not for too long, its not that clever). Recreational can also = misery badtime (suffering in the name of your art). But, thankfully, usually not.

Playing music is my life choice, passion and desired career too... it's just that I'd starve to death and be homeless if I didn't have a day job to pay the bills (and support my musical habits... like going to your ALH tour shows).

So... recreational is not necessarily the same as fun goodtime, although there is some of that but it's not necessarily the only reason why we do it. Some of us are cursed with the desire for original creativity and enriching others' experience of life through our performance. Well, at least that's how we self-justify the purchase of that must-have piece of musical or recording gear.

But, yep, it was that typical patronising "aren't the kids cute - they'll grow out of it" type of mainstream media take on rock so we are not in disagreement despite your blink(ered) assumptions!!! Long live A Low Hum (and its heirs and successors....)!

//more people are forming bands now more for the enjoyment of it not just to form a career out of it.

how is this any different to the last 30 years? people have always played music for enjoyment, its rare for a band to start up in new zealand with the primary intent of 'making it big'

well shit...isn't that good news? that dicks are now taking notice?

i mean, we do so much mocking of the mainstream, surely its time that they got some of their own back.

the thing that got me was that several of the bands listed are pretty established in the new zealand scene and overseas, at least a few had toured or played shows in Australia or further afield... i know i'd be embarrassed to publish a free article on a subject i knew nothing about, so why does a commercial newspaper do it??? surely a little research could have helped, potentially it could have been a great article, if approached from the right angle...

a bit odd considering 6 months ago they wrote an article about die die die giving them big ups and stuff, now they write an article asking "have you heard of them?"

// $15,000 has lost you any credibility as indie,

haha. but being sponsored by Jack Daniels didn't?

//jack daniels is cool, the government isn't.
if you were able to do your stuff entirely with private sponsorship you may be able to win back cred, but as of right now son, you're a glammed up civil servant.

haha. funny shit. I know you're pulling my leg. Hmmm...maybe i should change my opinion on that BP sonosorship plan.... I'd so much rather endorse BP then creativenz.

//haha. but being sponsored by Jack Daniels didn't? //

Rope, why bother? Blinkos insults himself better than you ever could...

actually don't.

right, um, could you possibly get Jon Sr. on the line for me please.

dude the line was right there. we don't need a repeat of that drivel.

"bianca zander knows her music, she's not some sad little J2 trying to make a name for themselves. "

the same Zander that sold up and went to the UK a couple of years back, failed miserably and returned to write for such high class magazines as the AA mag "Directions" ?

Yeah right...

Perhaps if John Russell or Troy Fergueson aor Scott Kara or Rebecca Barry had written the aricle... but then it would've been written at all, 'cos they don't write tales of fiction...

Hey !

AA's Directions magazine is kinda cool

well a lot of lot cooler than Rip It Up, I'd say

oh how post-ironic humourous you are woooodgy.

From the same maggot who gave us his/her taxpayer funded muscians Monday rundown last week that's pretty lame

righto, plankton

//Failed miserably

That's a bit rough. A lot of people move to the uk for non-career related goals, dude. Like leaving small-town xenophobes behind for a couple of years and experiencing the wonders of travelling through Europe. Ever done the big OE yourself?

// AA's Directions magazine is kinda cool

Strangely enough, it is.

Hugh Sundae is on the cover of the latest issue, but there appears to be no mention of him on the inside (?!)

Directions now seems to attract quite cool freelance writers, not the old "60-year-olds with an axe to grind" AA writers. It's a cool little travel-orientated magazine.